DENVER -- Last November, Mike Landess was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Initially, Mike wasn't going to do anything about it.

But, something has changed.

Here in Denver an existing biopsy procedure has been fine-tuned to create a 3-dimensional mapping biopsy, which has given patients an option between watchful waiting and aggressive prostate treatment or surgery.

For men with low-level, low-threat prostate cancer, the 3D mapping biopsy allows doctors to target the cancer instead of removing the prostate completely.

Removing the prostate can cause significant side effects such as incontinence and impotence.

However, before Mike can do the 3D biopsy mapping, doctors said he must use Avodart to reduce the size of his prostate.

A smaller prostate makes the procedure more effective and requires less recovery time.

Jerry Lee, a real estate developer from Boulder, saw Landess' story in November and he too was told he could do "watchful waiting."

"I was fairly early in the process, but that's not really what I do. I don't sit around and wait," Lee said.

Lee and his doctor decided he was a good candidate for 3D mapping biopsy.

"It will allow us to pinpoint where the cancer is based on the results of the pathology," Dr. Al Barqawi said.

The 3D mapping biopsy identifies the location and the amount of cancer allowing doctors to go back in with targeted treatment, attacking the cancer not the prostate.

In a number of cases the mapping biopsy finds more cancer than they knew was there.

This was true for Jerry, which means targeted treatment is not an option for him anymore.

However, Jerry said he's just glad to have the best information possible in order to decide what to do next.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recently backed a new prostate cancer vaccine. Studies have shown that the vaccine can extend the life of patients with metastatic disease by several months.

For more information, click here.

Want to send an e-mail to Mike? His address is Mike_Landess@TheDenverChannel.com.

Prostate Cancer Resources:

Prostate Cancer Education Council -- www.pcaw.com
For general information on disease and treatment options, try www.prostate-cancer.org
For general information go to www.prostateinfo.com
To learn more about Loma Linda (California) University Medical Center's site on Proton treatment, go to www.llu.edu/proton
A web site by and for people who've had the proton treatment is www.protonbob.com